Physics Courses
250/270 – General Physics I, 4 Cr.
Three hours lecture/two hours lab per week. An introduction to the fundamental principles of physics using the techniques of algebra and trigonometry. Topics covered include kinematics, mechanics, thermal physics and thermodynamics, fluid mechanics and wave motion. Applications to biology and medicine are discussed wherever possible. Prerequisite: Placement into MATH 220 or concurrent enrollment in MATH 180. (General Education Course)
251/271 – General Physics II, 4 Cr.
Three hours lecture/two hours lab per week. This course is a continuation of PHYS 250, and uses the techniques of algebra and trigonometry. Topics covered include electricity and magnetism, optics, and atomic and nuclear physics. Prerequisite: Grade of C or higher in 250.
260/270 – University Physics I, 4 Cr.
Three hours lecture/two hours lab per week. A calculus-based introduction to the fundamental principles of physics. The course will cover select topics in kinematics, dynamics, rotational motion, oscillatory motion, gravitation, fluid mechanics, thermal physics and thermodynamics, and wave motion. This course is recommended for all pre-engineering, chemistry, and biochemistry majors. Offered fall semester. Prerequisite: MATH 220 or 222 or concurrent enrollment. (General Education Course)
261/271 – University Physics II, 4 Cr.
Three hours lecture/two hours lab per week. This course is a continuation of 260, and is a calculus-based course of study. Select topics in electrostatics, magnetism, electromagnetic induction, DC and AC circuits, electromagnetic waves and the nature of light, geometric and physical optics, and atomic/nuclear physics (including some introductory quantum mechanics). This course is recommended for all pre-engineering, chemistry, and biochemistry majors. Offered spring semester. Prerequisites: Grade of C or higher in 260; grade of C or higher in MATH 220 or 222; MATH 221 recommended.
305 – Classical Mechanics, 3 Cr.
Three hours lecture per week. An intermediate level course on classical mechanics. Topics include particle dynamics, central force motion, dynamics of systems and rigid bodies, and Lagrangian/Hamiltonian mechanics. Offered fall semester of odd years. Prerequisites: Grade of C or higher in PHYS 261 or PHYS 251 and MATH 221; MATH 320 highly recommended.
311 – Electricity and Magnetism, 3 Cr.
Three hours lecture per week. An intermediate level course on electric and magnetic fields. Topics include electrostatics, magnetostatics, induction, dielectric and magnetic materials, and Maxwell‘s equations. Offered spring semester of even years. Prerequisites: Grade of C or higher in PHYS 261 or PHYS 251 and MATH 221; MATH 320 highly recommended.
321 – Waves and Optics with Medical Physics Applications, 4 Cr.
Three hours lecture/two hours lab per week. An intermediate level course on acoustic and electromagnetic waves with emphasis placed upon their applications in medicine. Selected topics include the wave equation, reflection, refraction, diffraction, interference, radiation, absorption, scattering and medical ultrasonics. Offered fall semester of even years. Prerequisites: Grade of C or higher in PHYS 261 or PHYS 251 and MATH 221; MATH 320 highly recommended.
338 – Biomechanics (cross-listed with BIOL 338)
Three hours lecture/discussion per week. The course provides an overview of musculoskeletal anatomy, the mechanical properties and structural behavior of biological tissues, and biodynamics. Specific course topics will include structure and function relationships in tissues and organs; application of stress and strain analysis to biological tissues; analysis of forces in human function and movement; energy and power in human activity; introduction to modeling viscoelasticity of tissues. Finally, the course will include the beginning stages of a biomechanical design project. Prerequisite: four credits of PHYS.
360/361 – Thermodynamics, 3 Credit lecture/1 Credit lab. (cross-listed with CHEM 360/361)
Lecture: Three hours lecture per week. Theoretical treatment of the laws that govern chemical and physical change. Topics include an introduction to quantum mechanics including molecular energies and spectra, real gasses, classical thermodynamics, solution thermodynamics, electrochemistry, and chemical kinetics. Prerequisites: grade of C or higher in CHEM 121, MATH 221 or 222; PHYS 251 or 261; MATH 320 highly recommended.
Lab: Four hours lab per week. Experimental Methods used in modern physical chemistry. Topics include molecular spectroscopy, thermochemical measurements, solution thermodynamics, electrochemical and kinetic methods. Co Requisite: 360.
363 – Modern Physics, 4 Cr.
Three hours lecture/two hours lab per week. The first half of the course will provide an introduction to the developmental history and theory of quantum mechanics using the wave mechanics approach. Topics include complementarity, basic solutions to Schrodinger’s equation, and the application of quantum theory to the atom. The second half of the course will address additional topics in modern physics, including relativity, nuclear physics, applications of nuclear physics, particle physics and cosmology. Offered spring semester of odd years. Prerequisites: Grade of C or higher in PHYS 261 or PHYS 251 and MATH 221; MATH 320 and PHYS 321 highly recommended.
498 – Directed Research Experience, 1-4 Cr.
A student-driven research experience under the supervision of a faculty mentor or an internship director. Two credits will be the standard credit given for this course. Research contracts will be required for everyone who registers, with fewer or additional credits given depending on the approved project and time commitment. Each faculty member will offer one section of this class per year. Prerequisite: grade of C or higher in CHEM/BIOL 397. Permission of the division chairperson required. May be repeated for a maximum of six credits.